What to know
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Directive 8020 hides the Curator behind five collectible secrets tied to crew nightmares.
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Start in Episode 8 to grab the first one, then backtrack through earlier episodes.
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Collecting all triggers his appearances before deaths and a special cutscene.
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Rewards include story insights and full Curator integration.
In Directive 8020‘s eerie sci-fi horror on the Cassiopeia, the Curator waits in shadows until you uncover his clues. These five secrets restore his classic role, teasing deeper lore through crew visions.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Secrets | 5 (nightmare messages) |
| Starting Point | Episode 8: The Way Back |
| Full Unlock | Curator appearances + cutscene |
| Playable Character Notes | Cernin for Episode 5 secrets |
| Game Release | May 12, 2026 |
Key locations
Explore the Cassiopeia’s tight corridors and rooms across episodes: Episode 8’s server-filled maintenance tunnels behind a battery-powered vent; Episode 1’s medical bay table gap post-door override; Episode 3’s mess hall wall terminal past vending machines; Episode 5’s command center hallway terminal and lounge couch via stairs detour.
How to collect the first secret in Episode 8
Head to Episode 8, The Way Back section, at the level start.

Step 1: Locate the vent
Spot the vent needing a battery right away.

Step 2: Grab the battery
Turn the corner to pick up the battery nearby.

Step 3: Power the vent
Insert the battery and open the vent.

Step 4: Navigate the tunnel
Turn right into the tunnel toward the computer screen.

Step 5: Move server racks
Shift the first rack, scan the wall, switch power to the door.

Step 6: Continue rearranging
Move more racks, walk right, switch power again, lower the next rack.

Step 7: Squeeze through gorp
Crawl the gorp tunnel.

Step 8: Power final rack
Duck another gorp tunnel, activate wall panel, route power left to control.

Step 9: Activate between racks
Return through gorp, activate panel between racks.

Step 10: Collect the secret

Ignore upper Sims message; go left down for the Curator OS (O Death track #1).

Place it to summon the Curator briefly.

Exit by opening the door back to the staircase and Well, That Was Embarrassing section.

How to collect the second secret in Episode 1
Switch to Episode 1, exploration chapter in Medical.

Step 1: Override the door
Unlock and enter the locked door.

Step 2: Find the table
Locate the table with a gap.
Step 3: Enter the gap
Walk inside for Sims’ dream about the Curator.

How to collect the third secret in Episode 3
Go to Episode 3, The Sample, exploration chapter Search.

Step 1: Reach mess hall
Arrive at main mess hall area.

Step 2: Pass vending machines
Go beyond the two vending machines.

Step 3: Interact with terminal
Approach the wall terminal; read the message about nightmares of the man in the bowler hat.

How to collect secrets four and five in Episode 5
Play Episode 5, Radio Silence exploration as Cernin.

Step 1: Start at command center
Begin in the command center.
Step 2: Climb stairs
Run up the stairs.

Step 3: Head down hallway
Proceed down the hallway for the wall terminal message (secret #4).

Step 4: Advance to lounge
Continue normally to the lounge area.

Step 5: Detour stairs
Skip following Cooper into lounge; run down stairs, then up the other side.

Step 6: Check the couch
Find Joseph’s Curator experience on the couch (secret #5).

Rewards from Curator secrets

Gather all secrets in any order after the first triggers partial return. Replay chapters freely with Turning Points feature to rewind choices and hunt misses. The Curator then haunts pre-death moments, delivering his signature wry commentary on doomed souls.

This triumphant return cements Directive 8020’s anthology ties amid alien mimics and trust dilemmas.